SEATTLE – While the Yankees are holding out hope that they will get Chuck Knoblauch back at some point, they are prepared to battle the Red Sox down the stretch and chase their third straight World Series title in October without one of their key ingredients.

“For me to count on him at this point in time is not healthy for me to look forward to having him,” Joe Torre said of his second baseman and leadoff hitter whose right elbow still isn’t right. “Again, I made that same type of statement about (Ramiro) Mendoza where the guy hasn’t pitched by now, where is he going to pitch and where is he going to play? We are not going to test people in a pennant race. It’s not that he can’t handle a pennant race, but physically we are not sure where he is.”

This past Friday Knoblauch’s elbow felt well enough for him to test it in a Single-A game in Florida. However, he was hit in the left knee during his second plate appearance and hasn’t played since. An MRI of the knee revealed no structural damage and it was thought Knoblauch would miss a few games and resume playing in minor league games in order to prepare for a return to the Yankees.

Yesterday, Torre reported that the elbow is barking again.

“He just doesn’t feel well enough to play, his elbow is bothering him,” Torre said of Knoblauch, who has been on the DL since Aug. 7, hasn’t played in a game since Aug. 2 and hasn’t been at second base since July 24. “It’s really been a horrible year for him and I can see where he has good reason to be discouraged and I just feel bad for him because a guy is used to playing every day and to be as idle as he has been, it’s been a tough go.”

After getting used to him, Torre has come to understand Knoblauch very well and aches for the player.

“I feel bad for Chuck because I don’t know where he is going to fit in what we do and what we are going to be able to do with him,” Torre said of Knoblauch, who is hitting .291 in 78 games. “I was hoping we could get him some at-bats and knock the rust off, but I am not sure that’s going to happen.”

Triple-A Columbus’ season ends Sunday and Knoblauch isn’t expected to be ready to play, or even swing a bat, by then.

Tentative plans to have Knoblauch rejoin the Yankees tomorrow at Yankee Stadium have been scratched. Instead, Knoblauch will continue to work out and receive treatment in Tampa. There is a chance Knoblauch will join the team in Kansas City next week, but if there is no progress before Monday, he may have to wait until the Yankees return home Sept. 11.

According to a close friend who talks to Knoblauch daily, his spirits are “good” and he expects to be back at some point.

And while GM Brian Cashman believes he will have Knoblauch’s services, who knows?

One thing Torre has a problem with is those people who don’t believe Knoblauch is as hurt as he says he is. Since Knoblauch has undergone every test known to man, some have privately questioned Knoblauch’s desire to play.

“I don’t think it’s fair because any time you question someone, it’s tough to do that because you are not in that body,” Torre said of Knoblauch, who has gone through serious mental problems in regards to his throwing. He contemplated retirement and walked out of a game this year due to them. “Look at (minor league prospect) Nick Johnson, what seemed like a problem that could have been taken care of in a four- to five-week period of time and it hasn’t done that. For a 21-year-old kid, there is no reason not to play.”

Johnson suffered a wrist injury swinging a bat in March and never played a game this year despite multiple tests not showing any bone, ligament or tendon damage.

Without Knoblauch, Torre has played Jose Vizcaino and Luis Sojo at second and used Derek Jeter and Luis Polonia in the leadoff spot. If that’s the way he has to go down the stretch and during October, so be it.

“Our plan has to be that we are not going to have him,” Torre said. “But if we didn’t have those guys we would be in trouble.”